Operation SAFECHILD

Operation SAFECHILD is a free service offered by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office that uses the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high resolution photography that produces a SAFECHILD card for parents and guardians.

What is the purpose of the program?

The main purpose of the program is to capture identifying information about your child on a SAFECHILD ID card. The information is also stored in a statewide database. The storage of this information is entirely voluntary and requires the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.

In addition to quickly providing important details to police agencies investigating child disappearances, the SAFECHILD card can be used in conjunction with the NYS AMBER Alert and Missing Child Alert programs. If a child goes missing, the SAFECHILD program allows their information to be electronically disseminated within minutes, significantly increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child home.

Where is the information stored?

The information is stored in a database at the NYS DCJS. When DCJS receives a missing child report, the fingerprints of that child are compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS. A parent or lawful guardian can request that the information be purged from the database at any time. When a child turns 18, the fingerprints are automatically purged from the database.